Car do jr construction



June 6, 1 933.

K. .1. TOB'IN ET AL CAR DOUR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 13, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l KENNETH J 755W 'W/LL/HM N DHEEOW June 6, 1933. K. .1. TOBIN El AL GAR DOOR CONSTRUCTIEDN Original Filed Oct.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ilt A UIL QWIIIIIIF FI villl June 6, 1.933. K. J. "roam ET AL CAR DOOR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 15, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 6, 1933. K. J. TOBIN |=:r L. Re. 18,

' CAR DOOR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 15, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 B IR l/E/V TOE5- KENNETH J 7520M MAL/HM l L DEE/60W HTTY K. J. TOBlN ET AL Re. 18,858

CAR DOOR CONSTRUCTIQN Original Filed Oct. 15, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a 1/ W a Mm v ,wwe a 6 x g 4 i mm A mm a a ,M Jr m \0 m I 1 Q 1% y k UH 5. 1 W M 6 5 M j 7 u. a 5 U ,.1 JI/n 11 June 6, 1933.

Reissued June 6, 1933 UNITED, STATES PATENT. QF'FI'CIE,

KENNETH J. TOBIN DARROW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO CAMEL COMPANY; OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, =A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS can. noon con'srnuc'rIoN Original No. 1,865,222, datedlune 2s, 1932, Seria1 110,325,873, filed October 13, 1927. Application for vreissue filed March 17, 1933., Serial No. 661,292.

The present invention relates to cardoor construction. a b a o More particularly the present invention relates to sliding doors such asare used in railway house cars. I The present invention .has been illustrated and will be described in connection with ears having double sliding doors for providing a doorway of extraordinary width to be used when thefcar is to be used with lading of extra large dimensions.

Suchcars are commonly termed automobile cars. It will be understood as the description proceeds, however, that the. invention is not limited to the type of car known as au-- tomobile car, but is equally adaptable to other types of car in which the door has a. sliding movement in opening and closing.

The presentinvention contemplates a construction in which the door or doors may be moved upon rollers, but which at other times may rest upon a flat surface independently of said rollers. 3

A further object is to provide a sliding door having conveniently operable means for moving sameupon rollers, which rollers are inoperative at times when it is not intended to communicate motion to said door.

A further object is to provide a sliding door which is capable not only of sliding movement longitudinally of the car for opening and closing the cooperating doorway, but is also capable of a small vertical movement, which door is provided with rollers operative when said dooris in raised position but inoperative when said door is in lowered position, whereby said door may have secure frictional "engagement with the relatively stationary'parts of the car at any degree of door opening and whereby the danger of slamming is minimized.

A further object is to provide a sliding car door having means whereby it may be lifted upon rollers outlof frictional engagement with the rigid parts of the car and whereby the door may be shifted laterally of the car a short distance, .to increase the clearance over what is'commonly provided in car construction between the car door and the car side. p v

A further object is to provide acar door construction-having the advantage that the I tomatically change its position laterally of the car, whereby to give improved clearance over present practice. I

Further objects will appear as the descrip tion proceeds. V 1

Referring to the drawings t Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of part of the side of a railway house car, an automobile car being chosen for illustration;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating on an enlarged scale part of the. construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane indicated the ;ar-

rows 3'3 of Figure 1;

along the plane indicated by the arrows 4-4 of Figure '1;

Figure 4 is arvertical sectional View taken Figure 51s a View on an enlarged scale showing a portion of thedoor lifting means associated with each of the doors shown in Figuresl, 2 and 3, thepo'rtion of the door lifting structure shown in Figure 5 beingthat represented at the lower left hand portion of each of the two doors shown in said figures;

Figure 6 is a view complementary to Figure 5 and showing a portion of the door liftng means disposed at the lower right hand edge of each of the doors illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3; p 1

Figure 7 is a view similar in many respects to Figure 2, but showing the doors in their lowered positions; a

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 88 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a. sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 99 of Figure 1;

Figures 10 and 11 are views of a lever such as used in the operation of the door lifting 9 structure shown in Figure 5;

Figures 12 and 13 are views of a cam such as may be used in the operations of the door lifting structure shown in both Figures 5 and 6;

Figures 14, and 16 are views of brackets such as used at the lower right hand portions of the doors shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, which brackets are shown in assembled relationship with said doors in Figure 6;

Figures 17, 18 and 19 are views of the bracket used at the lower left hand edge of each of the doors, said bracket being shown in assembled relationship with a door in Fig ure 5; and 1 Figures 20 and 21 are views of a roller retainer, which roller retainer is shown in assembled relationship with the corresponding door in Figures 5 and 6.

As noted above, the embodiment of the present invention chosen for illustration is an automobile car having two cooperating sliding doors, which, when both are opened,

provides a doorway of extraordinary width.

The side of the car is indicated by the numeral 30. The side will ordinarily be provided with stakes and other members which are not .illustrated but which must be cleared by the sliding door or doors in their opening and closin movements. It is for the purpose of provi ing sufiicient clearance between the sliding door ordoors and such stakes and the like that the door is so disposed as to be movable laterally of the car, as will presently be described. l

The numeral 31 indicates one'sliding door which may be termed a main door, and the numeral 32 indicates a sliding door which may be termed an auxiliary door. The auxiliary door is provided with the door amb 33 (indicated in section in Figure 3), which door jamb is provided with the lip '34 for receiving the front edge angle 35 ofthe main door 31. The rear edge of the auxiliarydoor 32 is provided with the rear edge weather strip 36 adapted to cooperate with a weather strip associated with the relatively stationary door jamb, which jamb is indicated as a whole by the numeral 37. Therear edge of the main door 31 is provided with the rear .edge angle 38 adapted to cooperate with a weather strip associated with the relatively stationary door jamb 39. Means are provided for lifting each of the doors 31 and 32 verti'cally and to carry said doors upon rollers, whereby said doors may be'readily moved longitudinally of the car. At such times as the doors are in their lowermost positions, they rest solidly upon relatively fixed portions of the car, whereby the danger of ac-. cidental sliding movement is minimized.

When the auxiliary door 32 is in closed position, the door jamb 33 thereof will be in secure latching relationship with portions rigid with the side sill and side plate of the car, whereby said sliding door- 32 will be rigidly held in its home position. The

' present invention also contemplates structure whereby the door 'jamb;33 when in its home position will securely tie the side sill and side plate together, holding same against spreading. The.constructionreferred tois illustrated in Figure 4, but is not claimed in detail in this application. Said subject matter is incorporated .in another application of the present applicants.

As shown in Figuresl, 2, 5, 6 and 7 the doors 31 and 32 are provided adjacent to their front and rearedges with rollers, each of a which is indicated by the numeral 40. Each of the rollers 40 is disposed within a roller retainer 41, which rollers retainers are pivoted to the doors adjacent to the forward and rear edges thereof through the medium of brackets, to be referred, to hereinafter. Means are contemplated for exerting a downward movement upon the free extremities of the pivoted roller retainers 4141, which action will have the effect of lifting the doors from frictional engagement with the rigid parts of the'car, whereby said doors will be carried by said rollers 40-40. Saidretainers, therefore, constitute levers of the first order. The brackets for carrying the pivoted roller retainers 41-41 are identical at the left hand lower corners of each of the doors ties in bearings 45 and 46 of the brackets 42 and 43, respectively. Each extremity of each rod 44 is provided with a squared portion for the reception of a cam member 47,

the brackets for best shown in Figures 12 and 13. Each cam 47. is provided with a camming surface. 48 adapted to engage the swinging extremity of the corresponding roller retainer 41, whereby toexert adownward push upon the swinging extremity of the corresponding roller retainer andwhereby to' produce a reaction to raise the corresponding door 31 or 32.- Each roller retainer 41-41 is providedwith a bearing portion 49 for the reception of apin 50,.whereby the roller retainer 41 may be pivotally supported upon I v the corresponding bracket 42 'or 43. Each roller retainer 41 is recessed intermediate of its length, as indicated by the numeral 51,

for the reception of a roller 40. Each roller retainer is provided with an aperture 52 for the reception of a pin disposed within the side walls of the. retainer 41, whereby the roller 40 isrotatably mountedwithin the retainer 41. The swinging extremity of each retainer 41 is provided with a lip 53 adaptedto slide within a corresponding recess 5 4 1n.the corresponding'bracket 42 or 43. Byreason of the slidingengagement of the lip 53 "and the recess 54, swinging movement of the retainer 41 transversely of the car is prevented, though swinging movement in avertical plane is permitted. Each bracket 42 and 43 is provided with a downi clockwise movement of the corresponding roller retainer 41 associated with the bracket 42 (see Figure 5), which movementwill be accompanied bya movement of rotation of the rod 44, which will communicate a similar clockwise movement to the roller retainer 41 associated with the bracket 43 (see Figure 6). Clockwise movements of the twocroller retainers 4141 associated with the two brackets 42 and 143 will, of course, con-1- municate a lifting movement to the corresponding door, whereby-to lift said door from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 2.

Each of the brackets 42 and 43 and each of the rods 44 associated withzeach ofthe doors. 31 and 32 are preferablydisposed in wardly of the outer sheathing of the corresponding door, and for this purpose the lower extremity of each of the doors 31 and 32 maybe swedged outwardly, as indicatedby the numerals 59 and 59a (see Figures3 and 4) It will be observed from these figures of the drawings that this operation provides merging outwardly extending vertical and horizontal'portions adapted to receive the brackets 42 and 43 and their con-. necting rod. 44 whereby the sheathing stands in protective relationship to said brackets and, with the exception of their ends, to

. the rods as well.

i vided with a stud 60- projecting through a corresponding hole in the outer sheathing of the door and the corresponding hand lever 55 is carried at the outer extremity of said stud 60. vThe swedged out portion 59 of the outer sheathing of the door is slotted, as indicated by the numeral 61, to permit access of the hand leverj55 to the'corresponding cam member 47. strap 62 may be provided on the outer wall of each of the doors for guiding the corresponding lever 55inits swinging movements. v

The rollers -4O are adapted to engage H 7 ithe track 63, which is supported from the either of the hand levers will result in a- Each bracket 42 is pro-' side sill of the car by a plurality of brackets 64 (see Figure 4). When the doors are in their lowered positions, they rest flatwise upon thetrack 63. Such flatwise engagement of the doors with the track. 63 has the result that the danger of accidental sliding of the doors is minimized regardless of the extent of door opening.

As mentioned above the present invention contemplates a structure in which each door ;is adapted to have a movement laterally of the car when said door ismoved from its closed positionlon'gitudinally of the car to an open position. For the purpose of communicating the lateral movement referred to, guide means of novel conformation are pro vided adjacent to the top and bottom of each door. Secured to the side plate 65 (Figure 4) is the angle member 66, which provides the downwardly extending guide flange 67.

Disposed upon the outside of each door adjacent to the top thereofare brackets 68 having portions overlying the guide flange 67. Carried by each door inside of theflan 'e 67 are the abutment's 69- (see Figures gl an'i l 9). Each abutment 69 is spaced frointhe corresponding portion of the bracket 68 a distance suflicient to more or less closely receive the guide flange 67. Said guide flange 67 is pro vided with indentures 70 (see Figures 4 and o9)', which indentures are smooth curves bent inwardly of the plane of the remainder of the guide flange 67. It will be clear that as the corresponding door is moved longitudi: nally of the car, the upper IDOI'tlGlLOf the door will be moved laterally. Carried by a rigid'part of the car are a pair of abutments 71--71 adapted to engage'the inner forward portions of the doors and limit lateral move ment of the corresponding door inwardly of thecar. Said abutments,7171, it will be understood, are effective only when the doors are in or near closed position. I

Each of the lips 54-A of the brackets 42 and 43 is adapted to overlie the outer edge of the track 63. When the door is in its 1nnermost position laterally of the car, that is, when'the door is in closed position, said lips 54.A will engage the outer edge of the track 63 more or less closely. The track member 63 carries a vertically disposed flange, and carried on the inner wall of said 8 shows a portion of the door 32, the closed said door at the lower portion of said door,

whereby to positively move same outwardly. At this time the indentures 73 will be out of abutting relationship with the abutmonts 72, whereby there will be no interference between said indentures and abutments.

From the above description it will be clear 7 that the invention provides a simple construc- Moreover, the lower portion of the door will tion in which the doors may rest slidably upon rigid portions of the car when it is intended that said doors shall remain still, whether in closed, partly open, or full open position. \Vhen it is desired to move said doors, it is a simple matter to exert a downward force upon the outer extremities of the hand leversand at the same time to communicate a pulling movement to the doors, whereby the doorswill be givena lifting movement, and will be carried upon the rollers 4040 and whereby the doors will be given a sliding movement to open same. l\-ot only will the above described operation of the hand levers.

5555 accomplish the movements upwardly and longitudinally of the car. hut by reason of the guiding arrangement between the guide flange 67 and thecooperating parts attached to the door, the upper portion oftbc corresponding door will be moved laterally,

whereby to give all the clearance necessary in practice for sliding movement of the door.

be moved outwardly by reason of the engagement of the innerwall of the lower portion of the door with thecorresponding abutment 74.

The present invention presents the further advantage that it affords an opportunity to use a very efiicient latching arrangement, which Wlll be descrlbed and claimed 1n a co pending application, which latching arran gement relies upon the lifting and lowering of a the door or door jamb whereby to cooperate with abutment means associated with the side sill or the side plate, or preferably both of said members.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those' skilled in the art. Itis intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is y 1. In combination, in a car, a horizontally slidable door, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie flat-wise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, rollers disposed adjacent to a horizontal edge and to the two vertical edges of said door engaging said track memand away from said side ofsaid car.

2. In comb1nat-1on,1n a car, a horizontally slidable door, a track member,said door having a portion adapted to lie flatwiseupon' a fixed part of said carto impart the weight of said door'thereto, rollers disposeda'djacent to a horizontal edge and to the two vertical edges of said door, said rollers engaging said track member, retainers for said rollers, said retainers being pivoted to said door and comprising levers of the first order, and operating means for the swinging extremities of said levers, and means connecting said operating means to cause said operating means to operate in unison, said edge of said door being capable of movement transversely of said car whereby said door in its sliding movement may have clearance relative to the side of said car, and mechanism for guiding said door in said movement transversely of said car toward-and away from said side of said car.-

3. In combination, in a car, a sliding door,

a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie flatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impartthe weight of said door thereto, rollers disposed upon said track member adjacent to the forward and rear edges of said door, said rollers enga ing said track member, retainers for said rol ers pivoted to said doors and comprising levers of the first order, and means for exerting a downward-force upon the swinging extremities of said levers, a handle for operating said means, said handle having a path of movement parallel with said door.

a track member,'said door having a portion adapted to lie fiatwise upon'a fixed part of said car to impart the Weight of said door thereto, a pair of unit assemblies carried by said door, each of said unit -assemblies-com- 4. In combination, in a car, a sliding door, I

prising a roller disposed upon said track member, a retainer for said roller pivoted to its corresponding unit assembly, means for exerting a downward force upon the swinging cxtremitiesof said retainers for lifting said door upon said rollers, means connecting said first mentioned means together whereby said first mentioned means operate in unison, and an operating member for said first mentioned means mounted to swing in a plane parallel with said door.

5. In combination, in a car, a slidingdoor, a track member, said door hav ng a portlon adapted to lie flatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, a pair of unit assemblies mounted upon said door, each of said assemblies comprising a bracket, a roller retainer pivotally supported by said bracket, and a roller engaging said track member and carried by said retainer, said retainer and said bracket having cooperating abutting portions for conprising a bracket, a roller retainer pivotally supported by said bracket, and a roller en gaging said track member and carried by said retainer, said retainer and said bracket hav ing cooperating abutting portions for constraining said retainer to movement in a single plane relative to said door, said retainer comprising a lever of the first order, and a member positioned to exert a downward force ing movement may upon the swinging extremity of said lever, and an operating member movable in a lane parallel with said door for exertin orce upon said member.

7. In combination, a door, a track member for supporting said door, said door being biased by gravity into engagement with said track member, rollers engaging said track member, levers carried by'said rollers and swung about the axes of said rollers, extremities of said levers being disposed in position to exert a lifting force to said door, and means for exerting pressure upon the other extremities of said levers whereby to swing same about said rollers as 'fulcrums for lifting said door, said means including an operating member having a path of movement parallel with-said door, whereby in a single movement a door lifting and a door openbe communicated to said door. V

8. In combination, a track member, a door, rollers, lever members pivoted to said door for carrying said rollers, means for exerting force upon said lever members to lift said door upon said rollers, guide means cooperatively associated with the top and bottom edges of said doors for guiding said door laterally of said car away from said car as said door is moved longitudinally of said car in the opening movcment-ofsaid door.

9. In combination, a track member,-a door, rollers, lever members pivoted to said door for carrying said rollers, means for exerting force upon said lever members to lift said door upon said rollers, guide means cooperatively associated with the top and bottom edges of said doors for guiding said door laterally of said car away from said car as said in a single movement a door lifting and a door is moved longitudinally of said car, said guide means including members for holding said door against lateral shake regard less of the extent of door opening.

10. In combination, a door, a track member for supporting said door, said door being biased by gravity into engagement with said track member, rollers engaging said track member, levers for carrying said rollers, said levers being of the first order, means for exerting pressure upon said levers whereby to swing same about said rollers as fulcrums for liftingsaid door, a rotatable member having its axis parallel with said door for simultaneously operating said means, and an operating member for said rotatable member, said operating member having a path of movement parallel with said door whereby door opening movement may be communicated to said door.

11 In a car, a sliding door, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie flatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, a pair of brackets mounted upon said door, a roller retainer pivotally supported by each of said brackets, and a roller within each of said roller retainers engaging said track member, each of said'brackets and its'corresponding retainer having cooperating abutting portions for constraining said retainer to movement in a single plane relative to said door.

12. In combination, in a car, a door, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie flatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, rollers disposed'adjacent to an edge of said door and engaging said track member,levers for carrying said rollers, said levers being swung about the axes of said rollers and disposed in positionto exert a lifting force to said door at extremities of said levers, means for exerting pressure upon the other extremities of said levers whereby to swing same about said rollers as fulcrums for lifting the door, said edge of said door being capable of movement transversely of said carwhereby said door in its sliding move ment may have clearance relative to the side of said car, and mechanism for guiding said door in said movement transversely of said car toward and away from said side of said car.

13. In combination, in a car, a sliding door, the lower portion of said door being swedged outwardly, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie flatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door theretofrollers disposed upon said track ,member adjacent to the forwardand rear ties of said levers, said rollers and the retainers therefor being disposed-in said outwardly swedged portion of said door, a bandle for operating said means, said handle having apath of movement parallel with said door.

14. In combination, in a car, a horizontally slidable door, outwardly swedged means provided on said door adj acent the lower corners thereof, a track, said door having a portion adapted to lie upon said track to impart the weight of said door thereto, a lift device including a roller engaging said track disposed in each of said swedged means, a member engageable with said devices for imparting simultaneous movement thereto, said member being positioned in outwardly swedged means extending between and communicating with said first mentioned means, and a lever for operating said member.

15. In combination, in a car, a horizontally slidable door, said door adjacent the lower corners thereof'being pressed outwardly, a track, saiddoorhaving a portion adapted to lie upon said track to impart the weight of said door thereto, a lift device for said door including rolling means engaging said track disposed in each of said outwardly pressed portions, an outwardly extending horizontal corrugation formed in said door extending between and merging with said outwardly pressed portions, a member disposed in said corrugation engageable with said lift devices for imparting movement thereto and lever means for operating said member.

16. In combination, in a car, a horizontally slidable door, said door adjacent the lower corners thereof being pressed outwardly, a track, said door having a portion adapted to lie upon said track to impart the welght of said door thereto, a lift device for said door including rolling means engaging said track disposed in each of said outwardly pressed portions, a member carried by said door engageable with said lift devices for imparting simultaneous movement thereto and a lever for operating said member.

17. In combination, in a car, a sliding door, a track, said door having a portion. adapted to lie upon said track to impart the weight of said door thereto, a lift device including roller means engaging said track carried by said door adjacent each lower corner thereof,

' a horizontal corrugation. formed in said door,

a member disposed in said corrugation engageable with said lift devices for imparting simultaneous movement thereto, and a lever for operating said member.

18. In coml' 'nation, in a car, a slidable door, outwardly swedged means provided on said door adjacent the lower 1 corners thereof, a track, said door havinga horizontally device including a roller engaging said track disposed n each of said swedged means, a member engageable with said devices for 1mparting simultaneous movement thereto, said member being positioned in outwardly swedged means extending between and com municating with said first mentioned means, slots provided in said first mentioned means, the ends of said member extending outwardly through said slots and a lever engageablc jyith one of said ends for operating said mem- 19. In combination, in a car, a horizontally slidable door, swedged means provided on said door adjacent the lower corners thereof, a track, said door having a portion adapted to lie upon said track to impart the weight of said door thereto, a lift device including a roller engaging said track disposed in each of said swedged means, a member engageablc with saiddevices for imparting simultaneous movement thereto, said member being positioned in swedged means extending between and communicating with said first mentioned means and a lever for operating said member. a

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 15th day of March, 1933. i

- KENNETH J. TOBIN.

WILLIAM WV. DARROVV. 

